My boy Connel

This is something that I never imagined I would have to do, but one thing I have learnt in life is that it never really goes to plan. At the beginning of the year Connel became unwell, he would have intermittent days of vomiting and just not feeling himself, which I didn’t think much of because he has always been very active and healthy. Connel also had reduced hearing in his left ear which progressively has resulted in a complete loss of hearing on that side. Again as young lads do he didn’t take this to serious and never got it checked with the GP. It wasn’t until May this year when I got a call from his college asking me to collect him that we realised something just wasn’t right. After several trips to the GP and A&E they decided to scan him as he had developed a left sided facial palsy. Maybe it was the nurse in me that kept thinking this would be something simple to treat and he would be ok. That night he had a CT scan that detected a mass, the days that followed turned into a nightmare. Connel was then given an MRI scan that showed a brain tumour, we initial got told that this was secondary and that he must have a primary cancer somewhere in his body. After more and more scans we were told that they were all normal, which was a massive relief. Unfortunately from then it’s been bad news followed by bad news. Connel had his biopsy 10 weeks ago, as a family we have all been living in limbo waiting for results, trying to keep it from his sister who was sitting her A-levels at the time. We have since been told that his tumour is situated in a area in his brain where it can not be removed, we’ve also been told that this is a high grade, aggressive tumour but due to the rarity of it he has no formal diagnosis as of yet. His biopsy has been sent to Newcastle and GOSH, two of the leading centres in the country to help with the diagnosis. His consultant has told us that this is very unusual and something that she has not come across in her career. Due to the complexity of his tumour he has been unable to start treatment, which has meant he has become more symptomatic. This has been the worst part of it all to watch your child who was so active and healthy to now struggle to walk. However despite all this connel has remained strong and optimistic, he has handled everything in his stride and with humour- something he often got pulled up about at school but something I knew would carry him through life. He is ready for the fight we have ahead, and I know he can do this. For many years I worked as an children’s oncology nurse, Iv watched as parents receive the devastating news that their child has cancer, and you never think it will happen to you. I have continued to work during this time of limbo due to financial reasons and also to keep some normality in our lives. I have a brilliant support network at my workplace and at home but I would now like to finish work so I can spend time with my boy and get him through this, whatever it might be. Anyone who knows me that I have always worked extra shifts to give my kids what they need, but right now I am unable to do this. I am setting up this page to help support financially at this time and create memories with my boy that I would otherwise be unable to do. I also want to raise enough money to get a new games console for the teenage cancer unit at Sheffield. I appreciate we are living in a time where the cost of living is excessive so any bit of support would be greatly appreciated